Seal



F. E. PAYNE SEAL . July 2, 1946.

Filed Feb. 15, 1944 EN TOR. @ne

iatentod` 2, '1946 l SEAL Frank E; Payne, Chicago,` Ill.,\assignorto Crane Packing 0f nunon Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation` Application February 15, 1944, serial No. 522,405 s 1-y My invention relates to improvements in seals ofthe type in which a rubber-like cylindrical member or sleeve' is provided, having endflanges ,connected by a bellows-shapedportion.

The outer faces of the flanges cons titutesealing surfaces. The inner' faces thereof are engaged by the ends of a lhelical spring which surrounds the bellows portion and presses saidY flanges. apart to distend `the sleeve as a whole.

In one such seal the end iianges areprovided with shoulders or seats, with the coiledsprlng j `positioned by said seats. vWith this arrangement it is necessary to grind the endsof the 4helical v 4 claims. (ci. ass- 11) -member when the shaftrotates. l .Said sealing member is yieldin'gly pressed against said ring I 6 at one end, and against the parallelwall'at the other'end of said recess, and turns therewith, The smooth' hard surface of said ring. vi6 slides against the adjacent smooth stationary surface of the bearing l9 or some other sealing surface atright angles to the axis of the shaft andprespring with a gradual taper to provide somethingv 4 approaching flat surfaces, ,in order toA distribute theA pressure fairly uniformly around the flanges.

This flat ring-likeend area does not infact cony stitutea complete circle but has a slight gap in it.`

One object of my invention is to provide an improved sealing assembly in which the pressure exerted by the endsof the helical springis uniformly distributed around the inner `faces of the flanges by meansofwashers or thelike. An-

other object is to make available the maximum area of contact between. the rwashers andv said flanges by uniting thebellows vwith the'end flanges as far-,from the periphery lof the latter as y possible.l l

other objects .and advantages win be apparent from the description subsequently given.,`

In the accompanying drawing I have' illustrated several embodiments of the invention.

Fig. A1 is aI sectional view of part ofza water pump with the seal mounted therein. 1

Fig. 2 is ofseaL, Y Y l Fig. 3 is a section of another modication.

Figs. 4 and 5 are additional modications. f-` The Sealing member is adapted for a vwide variety of uses, as for example,waterxpumps of a sectional elevation of another form autornpbileaoil pumps, fuel pumps, oil seals and grease'seals.. A water pump housing .of moreA or less conventional design is indicated by l0. -It

has la cylindrical bearing member il projecting at oneend in which the lshaft I2 is rotatably mounted. The impellerV i3 may be of any suitable form.' It has preferably a projecting flange Il forming an annular recessinwwhich the seal-y ingmember I5 is mounted. 'Ihe otherside `of the recess,l is closed by a sealing ring or centrally apertur'cd. disk I6 of anti-friction material as for examplefcarbon or a phenol condensation product. Said ring, has the usual radial ears or pro- Jections l1 thereon, which engage in recesses I8 in the flange il to insure rotation of the sealing l rection resultedy in vents leakage of water or other liquid. I

The sealing member comprises end flanges 20 connected by aiflexible bellows-shaped wallll.' both parts being made preferably ofru bber or some synthetic composition whichwilljnot de-` terio'ratey when in contact with the `iiuid to be,V

sealed and under the temperatures at vr which the seal is to operate. The'endiianges are integrally united with thej'ends of the bellows near the inner margins of Vsaid flanges so as to leave the maxif mum 'area of the flanges,` i. e. thevcomplete inner faces of said flanges, available to serve as ka seat for the Washers or ferrules, 22-22.

Y The `washers have theirouter peripheries spun. over at 23 to provide stops or restraining flanges..

25 The helical spring 24 has its'ends ground approxif mately iiat and is iitted against saidvwashers 22--22` to press the end anges apart.' The sleeve Y being-made of flexible material, it maybe deformed to-permit said washers and helical spring, tobe slipped over it. Said washers, as'shownin Fig. 1, cover substantially uthe'entire innerfaces;l of the-.end iianges and extend inwardly tothe line of junction of said end flanges `and the bellows seal. The `spring is prevented from moving positionby the spunV over j out of its 'intended flanges'23r' Y p K- With ythis arrangement, substantiallyvuniform pressure against the inner faces'of thefianges f v lris assured. This design also permits u seY of wider ,Y V

washers which vinsure better sealingof the flanges under pressure, in addition to increasing the sealing area. Withcertainprior devices, lack of )j uniform pressure `outwardly in a longitudinal dileakage. f

In the form of device shown in Fig. 2, the sleeve has'an opening Yof suilicie'nt diameter to clear the shaft. h

somewhat tapering form, with one end incontact f However, the seal may be made of with and rotating with theshaft. Such a'modified form is shown in 2.

In this figure, the bellowsy member 25 lhas an openingthrough it which is smaller atone end than at the other, and it engages the shaft at the small end with a tight or preloaded iit. Flanges 26, 21 are provided which are similar to those incomplete sealing againstv v Y Y 3 Y l l -previouslyjj'described except that theA opening `throughflange `28 is larger than through flange 2"'.V The washers 28, and 'the helical spring 3D1- lare `also quite `similar to those described in conf nection with Fig. 1. It willbe noted lthat inturned edge 29a is in contact with the cylindrical portion yof the sleeve `adjacent ilange 28. It is contem 'plated that said edge 29a will exert a compresincontact with the shaft 'to effect a seal thereat. In both Vforms Vbfdevice the end flangesmay be twice as wide, more or less, as those Vshown in the pressures.

. water but in the case of other liquids, such 'for example, as aromatic gasoline 'used in aeroplanes. Although the particular pump, in connection with which the seal is illustrated, requires that the seal itself rotate with the shaft, .the 'arrangement pressing a non-rotatable sealing 'ring against. -a rotating surface.

32--32 4on the inside. Washers '33k having turned over edgesf t against theseV flanges as in the case `of the other forms illustrated, Vexcept-said washers are on the inside instead of the outside of the seal. A helical spring 35 is also employed; the ends of which bear against said 'washersto distribute the pressure over said flanges.

of reenforcing devices to prevent undueerrlarge-` mentor deformation ofthe bellows under higher pressures than normal.

example; maybe made of metal .and which are; fitted within the convolutions of the bellows,

preferably rounded to correspond approximately to the curvature of the folds in the bellows. Not

as centralizers.

Vduring yits normal operation.

`pounds"per'square inch, but with thesereenforcabove this pressure maybe used. Anadditional centaliz'ingl means 31 may be used to position an `annular flange 4.or lip '39 which constitutes the bellows as a. whole may maintain a concenpoint where 'they touch *the shaft will cause-the bel-lows to freeze thereby vdestroying `the effectiveness'of the bellows rings, by 'maintaining ythe bellows Viris'paced relation 'to ythe shaft, prevent 'this from occurring.

shaft. 'I'he modification shownfin Fig. `5 -corresponds infgeneral Vto Fig. 2, in 'which'one 1endjof sive force upon the portion of the lbellows member drawing and correspondingly larger Washers may be employed to control leakage with much higher With both forms of invention described, a tight f seal may be maintained, lnot only iny the case of rvr may be reversed to provide a non-rotatable seal?, Y

lIn Fig. l:l the bellows ,3i has "its end flanges'v Figs. k4 and 5 show addedfeatures'in the wayv In Fig. 4I have shown rings.' sa which, for,-

and 'which have openings large v'enough to 'clear the shaft. The peripheries of these -rings are,

g only'do they 4resist external'pressure 'such as would v i tend toffcollapseithe bellows, but' they alsofact; These rings, as will be apparent do 5notfirnerfe're with Vthe flexing of the ybellows I The'bellowsf'seals of Y this general character usually operate at maximumpressures, or twenty-five tothirty-five 1 ing rings pressures as high rlas one hundred poundsV i or geven fifty per cent to oney hundred iper `cent one end of the bellows. The sealing vrin-g 38 has a centralizingrring for the `other `end hf. said 'belil lows. 'The means'l'i vvand llange il!)A insure that f :to the shaft permanently,

undesirable result;

the bellini/'shits a tight lltv on the shaft. lIn ifig.A 5

theV bellows is assumed to'befunder an internalr pressure which,`if excessive, tends -to enlarge it and deformmitl considerably. The `pressure resisting or rein-forcing rings in this case are 'arranged .to 'surround the convolutions of the bellows instead of being arranged inside of the same. Said `rings may-'have substantially the same cross sectional appearance astho'se .inFig 4 except that the innenperipheries larey rounded instead of the outer peripheries or they may have a circular cross section such as shown at 4 0. They may, for

"f example, be made out of wire stock with the. ends weldedtogethe'r to form endless rings. rvSuch rings may be usedfto resist either inside -or outside y pressure.

ThenieansjilishownV in Fig. 4 may be a sepa-V rate independent ring,ffalthough it is preferably formedv as a flange which is integral with the laoijiaventwallcf theimpeller [-3. y

Itwill be understood that any one yor more of the Vvarious rings shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be used in connection with the particular seals illus# I trated'in the other gures of the drawing.

V`othervend clearing said'shait and having ltric 'position with respect to said shaft. Where 4 certain 4types of syntheticrubber. are used, de-V formation of .the bellows underv ,pressure toV theV Variousfotherfchanges may be made finf the several' illustrated `emlmd'iinents shown@"inviti-iinl the scope of the appended-claims.'y

I claim: Y 1. 'Ihe combination with Ia* rotatable' shaft, 'of anvannular Vchamber surrounding the same, a rubber-likel bellows member ysurrounding said shaft andl in engagement therewith at one end, a flange integrally'united with said end, 'the ilange formed as a surrounding said -angea bellows member f between said the washer [at the said V,one end compressing that end upon the shaft to" form -a duid-tight seal thereat.l 1 v .2.1 sealing tweenrelatively said "sleeve .'l'iavingA spaced *radially 'disposed vflanges, 5a, fcentral portion having at 'least one v lilriansihlemid, andsubstantially cs'v'liruiricaliper-f` 'tions''connectingv -the` yice'ntriil '-.portion to the f flanges:

resilient .means compressed between the flanges vand `tending :to expand lthe central portion through 'the intermediary of'thejflanges and connecting-cylindrical portions, and rigid wash- Y ers interposed between 'the resilient means and flanges, one of 'said washers" yhaving axially `turned edges, the outer edge serving'to center the .resilient means 4and 'the inner edge 'operating upon .the cylindrical portion to exert a compres- :sive force thereon. whereby'toeffect la' seal bel tween the keylindr'ical Vportion relatively rotatable elements. Y Y i `3. A Vsealing `apparatus'comprising ajsleeve of resilentornpressible material ysuch as synthetic `and V`'one vrof :said

rubber `possessing the characteristic :ofadhering v615 kto metal 'when` pressed'y against the metal fors'ubstantial periods of'itime, a. metal elementv in' the .i

rvsleeve, said sleeveh'aving; 'annular ends andan to'lexpand andV contract Vaxially `as required. The .y

Fig. 4 1corresponds in Vgeneralqto Fig. ll in that l both ends of the seal are vioutfcifcontact with the intermediate region having `at least rone fold,Y

means 'for fixing one end ofthe sleeve axially Tand forextending the lother end relative to the fixed end, whereby-.to 'make necessary an :axial movement `of the fold,` andan independent annular member intermediatethe @metal y.element and j -fold to keep thefold spaced 'from the metal elementand thus prevent 'said fold from` adhering- Kr. part thereof; a helical spring.

and washers between-said flanges and said `spring' vand .extending inwardlyfto--the peintV of juncture'of. said flanges and bellows member,

apparatus vvfor effecting s, seal Vlzierotatable 'elements Y comprising s.k Y 'tubular sleeve oi'y resilient' compressibler material,

tion, and substantially cylindrical portions con-A necting the central portion to the flanges;` resilient means surrounding the central portion and compressed between the flanges to ltend to ex- 6 pand the central portion through the intermediary of the flanges and connecting portions, and rigid Washers interposed between the resilient means and flanges, one of said washers having an axially turned inner edge which operates upon one cylindrical portion to exert a compressive fOrCe thereon. whereby to eiect a seal between the cylindrical portion and one of said relatively.

movable elements, Y

n FRANK E. PAYNE. 

